Guide
Planning to come back? What to do before you leave
Some countries make the trip home depend on what you do before your pet leaves. Here is what the official sources say, for the countries we cover.
Updated 2026-10-12
The most expensive pet travel mistakes happen on the way back. Some countries treat a returning pet as a new import, and a few steps can only be done before your pet leaves: a certificate that cannot be issued afterwards, a blood test that must be taken from the home country, or a notice that must reach the authority first.
Tell the planner about your return date and it plans both directions. This page collects what the official sources say for the countries we cover.
What the official sources say
To bring your pet back from most non-EU countries a rabies titer test is required. Austria says it is best done before you leave.
“Für die Wiedereinfuhr von Hunden, Katzen und Frettchen ist aus den meisten Drittstaaten eine Tollwuttiterbestimmung vorgesehen, die am besten bereits vor der Ausreise durchgeführt wurde.”
Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
“The 3-month waiting period is not required if you are re-entering the EU with your pet after a short stay in a non-EU country on condition that before leaving the EU : your pet was vaccinated against rabies, and your pet underwent a successful rabies titration test, and this information is recorded by your vet in your pet's EU passport.”
Planning to bring your pet back to Australia? Contact DAFF's imports team before you export. Within 6 months of export, extra pre-export requirements may apply, and some animals can't be imported or returned under any circumstances.
“you may need to meet pre-export requirements if you are planning to import your animal back to Australia within 6 months of export”
Even after a short stay in a non-EU country, your pet has to meet the rules for entering Belgium from outside the EU when it comes back. Where a blood test is needed, the conditions are relaxed if you do it before you leave.
“Si vous réalisez un séjour temporaire même de courte durée dans un pays tiers, pour votre retour en Belgique, vous devez respecter les conditions de mouvement depuis un pays situé en dehors de l’Union européenne”
Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
“The 3-month waiting period is not required if you are re-entering the EU with your pet after a short stay in a non-EU country on condition that before leaving the EU : your pet was vaccinated against rabies, and your pet underwent a successful rabies titration test, and this information is recorded by your vet in your pet's EU passport.”
If you leave Chile only for a while, your pet can come back with the same CZE if it re-enters within 60 days of the date the certificate was issued, its rabies vaccination is still valid, and the CZE records its individual and permanent identification. Otherwise you need a certificate from the country you come from that meets Chile's entry rules.
“los perros y gatos que salgan temporalmente de Chile podrán retornar utilizando el mismo Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación (CZE), siempre que el reingreso se realice dentro de los 60 días siguientes a la fecha de emisión del certificado y la vacunación antirrábica se mantenga vigente.”
To come back to the EU from a country not on the EU list, the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test does not apply if the pet's passport shows the test was done, with a positive result, before it left the EU. So do the blood test before you go.
“The three month period does not apply to the re-entry of a pet animal whose passport certifies that the titration was carried out, with a positive result, before the animal left the territory of the Community.”
Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
“The 3-month waiting period is not required if you are re-entering the EU with your pet after a short stay in a non-EU country on condition that before leaving the EU : your pet was vaccinated against rabies, and your pet underwent a successful rabies titration test, and this information is recorded by your vet in your pet's EU passport.”
Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
“The 3-month waiting period is not required if you are re-entering the EU with your pet after a short stay in a non-EU country on condition that before leaving the EU : your pet was vaccinated against rabies, and your pet underwent a successful rabies titration test, and this information is recorded by your vet in your pet's EU passport.”
Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
“The 3-month waiting period is not required if you are re-entering the EU with your pet after a short stay in a non-EU country on condition that before leaving the EU : your pet was vaccinated against rabies, and your pet underwent a successful rabies titration test, and this information is recorded by your vet in your pet's EU passport.”
Your pet may have to meet specific requirements to return to Denmark, and some of them must be met before you leave Denmark or the EU. Check the rules for coming home before you go.
“Nogle af kravene skal opfyldes, allerede inden du forlader Danmark eller EU.”
Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
“The 3-month waiting period is not required if you are re-entering the EU with your pet after a short stay in a non-EU country on condition that before leaving the EU : your pet was vaccinated against rabies, and your pet underwent a successful rabies titration test, and this information is recorded by your vet in your pet's EU passport.”
When you return to Estonia from a non-EU country, always check whether additional requirements apply to your pet. PTA's page has a chapter on travelling to Estonia from non-EU countries.
“When returning to Estonia from non-EU countries always check weather additional requirements apply to your pet or not.”
Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
“The 3-month waiting period is not required if you are re-entering the EU with your pet after a short stay in a non-EU country on condition that before leaving the EU : your pet was vaccinated against rabies, and your pet underwent a successful rabies titration test, and this information is recorded by your vet in your pet's EU passport.”
To come back from a non-EU country that needs the rabies antibody test, the 90-day wait after the blood sample does not apply if the test was done with a favourable result before your pet left the EU and is recorded in its passport.
“este plazo de 90 días no se aplicará, si se realiza la valoración con resultado favorable antes de que dicho animal abandone el territorio de la Unión Europea.”
Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
“The 3-month waiting period is not required if you are re-entering the EU with your pet after a short stay in a non-EU country on condition that before leaving the EU : your pet was vaccinated against rabies, and your pet underwent a successful rabies titration test, and this information is recorded by your vet in your pet's EU passport.”
Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
“The 3-month waiting period is not required if you are re-entering the EU with your pet after a short stay in a non-EU country on condition that before leaving the EU : your pet was vaccinated against rabies, and your pet underwent a successful rabies titration test, and this information is recorded by your vet in your pet's EU passport.”
Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
“The 3-month waiting period is not required if you are re-entering the EU with your pet after a short stay in a non-EU country on condition that before leaving the EU : your pet was vaccinated against rabies, and your pet underwent a successful rabies titration test, and this information is recorded by your vet in your pet's EU passport.”
Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
“The 3-month waiting period is not required if you are re-entering the EU with your pet after a short stay in a non-EU country on condition that before leaving the EU : your pet was vaccinated against rabies, and your pet underwent a successful rabies titration test, and this information is recorded by your vet in your pet's EU passport.”
Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
“The 3-month waiting period is not required if you are re-entering the EU with your pet after a short stay in a non-EU country on condition that before leaving the EU : your pet was vaccinated against rabies, and your pet underwent a successful rabies titration test, and this information is recorded by your vet in your pet's EU passport.”
If you live in Hong Kong SAR China
Will your pet come back to Hong Kong? Certain steps must be completed before export, so check AFCD's guidance for returning pets first.
“If you will bring your dog or cat back to Hong Kong, certain steps need to be completed before export.”
Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
“The 3-month waiting period is not required if you are re-entering the EU with your pet after a short stay in a non-EU country on condition that before leaving the EU : your pet was vaccinated against rabies, and your pet underwent a successful rabies titration test, and this information is recorded by your vet in your pet's EU passport.”
Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
“The 3-month waiting period is not required if you are re-entering the EU with your pet after a short stay in a non-EU country on condition that before leaving the EU : your pet was vaccinated against rabies, and your pet underwent a successful rabies titration test, and this information is recorded by your vet in your pet's EU passport.”
Make sure your pet qualifies to return to Ireland: the same rules apply to re-enter from a non-EU country whether the pet usually lives there or is an Irish pet that was there briefly on holiday.
“the same rules apply to re-enter from a non-EU country whether the pet is usually resident there or if it is an Irish pet who was just there briefly on holidays”
Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
“The 3-month waiting period is not required if you are re-entering the EU with your pet after a short stay in a non-EU country on condition that before leaving the EU : your pet was vaccinated against rabies, and your pet underwent a successful rabies titration test, and this information is recorded by your vet in your pet's EU passport.”
Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
“The 3-month waiting period is not required if you are re-entering the EU with your pet after a short stay in a non-EU country on condition that before leaving the EU : your pet was vaccinated against rabies, and your pet underwent a successful rabies titration test, and this information is recorded by your vet in your pet's EU passport.”
Might your pet come back to Japan? Check Japan's re-entry conditions before you leave: depending on the measures taken, the import quarantine can be under 12 hours or up to 180 days. Blood sampling and the rabies antibody test must be done at a vet clinic and a MAFF-designated laboratory.
“Depending upon the measures taken, the import quarantine period could be within 12 hours or longer, up to 180 days.”
Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
“The 3-month waiting period is not required if you are re-entering the EU with your pet after a short stay in a non-EU country on condition that before leaving the EU : your pet was vaccinated against rabies, and your pet underwent a successful rabies titration test, and this information is recorded by your vet in your pet's EU passport.”
To come back from other non-EU countries the pet has to have the rabies antibody titer test before it leaves the EU, and your vet must enter the result in the EU pet passport before it leaves.
“Das Resultat des Tests zur Titrierung von Tollwutantikörpern muss vom zuständigen Tierarzt in den europäischen Heimtierausweis eingetragen werden, bevor das Tier die EU verlässt.”
Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
“The 3-month waiting period is not required if you are re-entering the EU with your pet after a short stay in a non-EU country on condition that before leaving the EU : your pet was vaccinated against rabies, and your pet underwent a successful rabies titration test, and this information is recorded by your vet in your pet's EU passport.”
PVD says that if you travel to a third country with your pet and expect to return with the same animal, only the passport must be presented when you return to the EU. The leaflet lists the other conditions for entering the EU separately (identification, rabies vaccination and, for countries not on the EU list, the rabies antibody test).
“If you travel to a third country with an animal and expect to return with the same animal, then upon returning from the third country back to the EU territory only the passport must be presented.”
Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
“The 3-month waiting period is not required if you are re-entering the EU with your pet after a short stay in a non-EU country on condition that before leaving the EU : your pet was vaccinated against rabies, and your pet underwent a successful rabies titration test, and this information is recorded by your vet in your pet's EU passport.”
Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
“The 3-month waiting period is not required if you are re-entering the EU with your pet after a short stay in a non-EU country on condition that before leaving the EU : your pet was vaccinated against rabies, and your pet underwent a successful rabies titration test, and this information is recorded by your vet in your pet's EU passport.”
Planning to bring your pet back? A pet returning to Norway can use its EEA pet passport instead of a health certificate only if it had its rabies vaccination, and the titer test where one is needed, before it left the EEA. Do them before you go.
“animals returning to Norway (or another EEA-country), may be accompanied by their pet passport as long as the animal received the anti-rabies vaccination and underwent the rabies antibody titration test (if necessary) before the pet left the EEA”
Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
“The 3-month waiting period is not required if you are re-entering the EU with your pet after a short stay in a non-EU country on condition that before leaving the EU : your pet was vaccinated against rabies, and your pet underwent a successful rabies titration test, and this information is recorded by your vet in your pet's EU passport.”
Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
“The 3-month waiting period is not required if you are re-entering the EU with your pet after a short stay in a non-EU country on condition that before leaving the EU : your pet was vaccinated against rabies, and your pet underwent a successful rabies titration test, and this information is recorded by your vet in your pet's EU passport.”
Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
“The 3-month waiting period is not required if you are re-entering the EU with your pet after a short stay in a non-EU country on condition that before leaving the EU : your pet was vaccinated against rabies, and your pet underwent a successful rabies titration test, and this information is recorded by your vet in your pet's EU passport.”
Make sure your pet meets the rules for coming back to Sweden before you go. If a rabies antibody test is needed to return and its result is not in the passport before the trip, a dog may have to wait up to 4 months before it can come home.
“Se till att din hund uppfyller kraven för återresa till Sverige innan resan, om ni ska resa tillbaka till Sverige.”
Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
“The 3-month waiting period is not required if you are re-entering the EU with your pet after a short stay in a non-EU country on condition that before leaving the EU : your pet was vaccinated against rabies, and your pet underwent a successful rabies titration test, and this information is recorded by your vet in your pet's EU passport.”
If you will come back to Slovenia with your pet, find out the conditions for re-entry before the pet leaves the EU.
“V primeru vračanja s hišno živaljo v Slovenijo (EU) se je treba glede pogojev za ponovni vstop pozanimati preden žival zapusti EU.”
Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
“The 3-month waiting period is not required if you are re-entering the EU with your pet after a short stay in a non-EU country on condition that before leaving the EU : your pet was vaccinated against rabies, and your pet underwent a successful rabies titration test, and this information is recorded by your vet in your pet's EU passport.”
If you plan to come back, learn the conditions for bringing your pet back into the EU from non-EU countries before you leave.
“V prípade zamýšľaného návratu je vhodné informovať sa aj o podmienkach vstupu so zvieraťom z tretích krajín do EÚ ešte pred vycestovaním do tretích krajín.”
Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
“The 3-month waiting period is not required if you are re-entering the EU with your pet after a short stay in a non-EU country on condition that before leaving the EU : your pet was vaccinated against rabies, and your pet underwent a successful rabies titration test, and this information is recorded by your vet in your pet's EU passport.”
Coming back to the U.S. with your dog? Your destination is high-risk for dog rabies, so get the 'Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination' from a USDA-accredited vet BEFORE you leave — it can't be issued afterwards.
“cannot be issued retroactively”
Before you book
- Decide before you leave whether your pet will come back, and by when. Authorities often treat “coming back within a few months” differently from a permanent move.
- Check the entry rules of your home country now, not when you are abroad. Some steps cannot be done from another country.
- Keep every original certificate, test result and receipt. Several authorities ask for them again on return.